J&K govt raises flag, won't allow BJP march

The J&K government has decided not to allow BJP youth wing activists to hoist national flag on Jan 26, Republic Day, at Lal Chowk. The state government has taken a firm decision that BJP activists will not be allowed to enter Valley at any cost. The decision was taken in a cabinet
meeting on Thursday chaired by chief minister Omar Abdullah. A government handout was issued after the cabinet meeting said, "the state government has directed the Civil and Police authorities to ensure that all measures are taken to ensure that the law and order in the state is not disturbed in the run up to the Republic Day celebrationsâ€

"The flag-hoisting yatra will undo all the gains made in last few-month. It will be a provocative act and will have counter reaction. It was unanimously decided that BJP activists will not be allowed to cross Jawahar tunnel," said a senior cabinet minister, wishing not to be quoted.

The cabinet decision was taken a day after chief minister called on home minister in New Delhi to discuss flag-hoisting yatra by Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM), youth wing of BJP. Omar in a guarded statement after the meeting had said, â€œ..we are hoping that nothing is will be done to precipitate the situation in the State. As we come closer to Jan 26 we will decide.â€

The state government decision based on its assessment of the situation in the backdrop of the Lal Chowk Chalo (march) call given by on Jan 26 by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, a separatist outfit headed by Yasin Malik.

Flag hoisting yatra, called Ekta Sankalp yatra, was flagged by BJP national president Nitin Gadkari from Kolkota on Jan 11.

BJP has categorically made it clear that it will go ahead with its scheduled programme. The party had said stopping the yatra will amount to appeasing separatists.

New Delhi Questioning Jammu and Kashmir government's opposition to BJP's Ekta Yatra, senior party leader L K Advani today said the move was in no way challenging the state government but separatists.

"Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said the move will precipitate things in the Valley. It is a provocative step. It is provocative not for India but its enemies...we are not challenging the government but the separatists," he said.

He was addressing the Ekta Yatra of BJP youth wing which reached here on way to Kashmir where party leaders plan to hoist national flag at historic Lal Chowk.

The state government has objected to the plans of hoisting the tricolour and asked BJP not to go ahead with it.

Advani said it was the duty of the state government to ensure that the national flag is hoisted at Lal Chowk successfully. "The government should help in hoisting the flag. It is the government's duty to do so...it should not forget its duty," he said.

The BJP leader questioned the recent statement of Abdullah that Jammu and Kashmir had only accessed to India through a treaty and not merged with it on the lines of Hyderabad and Junagarh. "I am surprised at the statement," he said.

Referring to the decision of Bharatiya Jan Sangh leader Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's decision not to seek 'permit' for entering Jammu and Kashmir, Advani said "provocation was necessary for achievements...his decision ensured that permit raj ended in that state soon after his demise there. After that the President and the Supreme Court had jurisdiction over Jammu and Kashmir."

The state govt which remained a mute spectator when separatists ruled the streets and held the sovereignty and dignity of India to ransom for months,has now suddenly mustered uncommon courage and will not leave any stone unturned to prevent nationalists from raising the Indian tricolor on the sovereign land of India.It will make for a strange spectacle to see Omar Abdullah govt and the separatists make a joint bid to prevent a national party from raising the national flag in Srinagar,ab doodh ka doodh aur pani ka pani ho jayenga